Libya declares the defeat of extremist groups in Derna

CAIRO – 16 June 2018: Libya declared on the first day of Eid al-Fitr (a Muslim feast to celebrate breaking the fast after the end of the holy month of Ramadan) that it has seized most of the eastern coastal city of Derna from extremist groups in the country following the military successes achieved by the national army.

The Libyan National Army forces took control of large areas of the city of Derna and have said that they are close to defeating the terrorist and extremist groups that have taken over the city for seven years. As part of his follow-up to the ongoing military operations in Derna, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter directed Al-Karama Operations Room and Omar Al-Mukhtar Operations Room to abide by his instructions regarding the treatment of arrested terrorists and the need to send them immediately to the corresponding authorities.

Seizing Derna would complete the takeover of Libya’s east by Haftar, who built up his Libyan National Army (LNA) during the three-year campaign for Benghazi, Libya’s second city. But the fighting in Derna could also undercut the UN-led efforts to stabilize Libya by reconciling the eastern-based factions aligned with Haftar and the rival groups located in the country’s more populous west, Reuters reported.

The media office of the Libyan military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Mesmary, said that Marshall Haftar had asked for an investigation concerning the video clip that was spread over the Internet showing Libyan soldiers displaying practices contrary to the law and the instructions of the commander of the Libyan army in regards to dealing with terrorist prisoners. Haftar instructed that the results of the investigation be referred to law enforcement authorities.

Haftar asked all military units to provide an immediate update on each arrest case containing accurate information about the arrested and the actions taken against him.

Libyan military sources confirmed that the Libyan National Army forces had repulsed an attack by terrorist groups backed by Qatar in the valley of Achila in the Brega region of Ajdabiya, and destroyed 17 armed mechanisms of terrorists while also capturing a large number of them.

The sources said that the Libyan army forces are engaged in violent clashes in Ajdabiya, pointing out that the Libyan army launched a major military operation to eliminate terrorists and extend control over the entire area. The sources also stressed that the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces paid large reinforcements to support troops stationed in Ajdabiya, since there were terrorist attacks in oil fields since yesterday evening.

On the other hand, the Libyan air force launched intensive raids on terrorist groups attacking the oil crescent, led by the so-called "Forces in Defense of Benghazi", in the vicinity of the port of Sidra.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) evacuated its staff from the Ras Lanuf and Sidra ports in order to maintain their safety following armed clashes in the area. The loss of oil production was estimated at more than 240,000 barrels, and the entry of an oil tanker that was supposed to reach the port of Sidra was postponed.

The board of directors of the National Oil Corporation of Libya called for the prosecution of all individuals or political groups trying to seize Libyan oil installations, impose a blockade on production operations, and use the institution to achieve its objectives.